The government has rejected planning inspectors’ recommendations in four appeal decisions since October 2021.
In response to a question from Mrs Lord-Brennan MHK, DEFA Minister Clare Barber said that four planning appeal decisions made by her department did not follow the recommendation of the appointed Appeal Inspector.
The cases include a garage conversion in Douglas, a guest house conversion in Port Erin and the contentious telegraph pole installations in Peel.
In the Douglas case, an inspector recommended accepting an appeal against a garage being changed to a gym business, but the department overruled this and granted permission for the conversion to go ahead.
In Port Erin, the inspector recommended allowing the conversion of Erin House to eight apartments, which was approved , but there was deviation on a policy issue.
The telegraph poles at Cronk Reayrt and Bellevue Park in Peel were approved despite inspectors recommending they be refused.
Mrs Barber said no decisions were made by the department sitting as a board. Three decisions were made by her acting alone, while one was made under delegated authority by Dr Michelle Haywood.
The two Peel telegraph pole decisions were made by Lawrie Hooper under delegated authority.
Appeals
In a separate response, the minister revealed that nine Manx Telecom planning applications subject to appeal were withdrawn before determination in the last four years.
These related to installations in Ramsey, Ballaugh, Andreas, Onchan and Castletown.